NCLB

When New Jersey applied to the federal government for a waiver from the No Child Left Behind law, Gov. Chris Christie used the opportunity to tout elements of his education reform agenda that had been languishing in the state legislature for months.

The Christie administration wants to withhold state and federal aid to low-performing schools that refuse to undergo significant reshaping via measures such as removing principals and teachers, lengthening the school day and revamping the curriculum.

A majority of U.S. states intend to opt out of the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind, and 11 have already made formal requests to take advantage of the waivers President Barack Obama offered in September, the Education Department said on Tuesday.

Citing the strength of historic public education reforms already under way in Kentucky, the state on Monday submitted its application asking to be relieved of some requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

The No Child Left Behind Act drove schools to slash programs that don't directly contribute to the goal of higher achievement in reading and math. The technology revolution, with its emphasis on math and science, has further pushed us to prioritize those disciplines.

A popular after school program for children of working families known as New Jersey After 3, which had planned to shutter due to a loss of state funding, will continue its work through a new partnership with the state Department of Education, Gov. Chris Christie announced today.